Sterilizing method and apparatus

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for sterilization are presented. An exemplary embodiment includes a sterilizing cabinet assembly. The sterilizing cabinet includes a cabinet having an access port, a door connected to the cabinet, the door moveable between an open position permitting passage through the access port to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage through the access port. The sterilizing cabinet assembly also includes at least one of the cabinet and the door having a vent port. The sterilizing cabinet has a primary filter overlying the vent port and forming a sealed interface with an adjacent portion of the one of the cabinet and the door and a secondary filter overlying at least a portion of the primary filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process, the sterilizing cabinet assembly, comprising:
 (a) a cabinet having a top wall, a bottom wall, right and left sidewalls, and a rear wall; 
 (b) an opening in the cabinet sized to pass a plurality of trays, each tray sized to retain a plurality of medical instruments, the opening extending between the left sidewall and the right sidewall and between the top wall and the bottom wall, and lying in a plane spaced from the rear wall; 
 (c) a door moveable between an open position permitting passage of the tray through the opening to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage of the tray through the opening; 
 (d) the door having a vent port; and 
 (e) a filter overlying the vent port and forming a sealed interface between confronting surfaces of the door and the cabinet in the closed position of the door, wherein the sealed periphery between the door and the cabinet is broken when the door is opened. 
 
     
     
       2. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed interface between confronting surfaces of the door and the cabinet is a single, continuous seal. 
     
     
       3. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the cabinet is defined by a periphery and wherein the door is sized to have a door periphery corresponding to the opening periphery. 
     
     
       4. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the cabinet is lying in a plane parallel to the rear wall. 
     
     
       5. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the cabinet is defined by a periphery and wherein the door is sized to have a door periphery corresponding to the opening periphery. 
     
     
       6. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the cabinet is defined by a periphery and wherein the door is sized to have a door periphery extending beyond the opening periphery. 
     
     
       7. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 6 , wherein the opening periphery extends along an edge of the top wall, bottom wall, and left and right sidewalls. 
     
     
       8. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 1 , wherein the door is removeable. 
     
     
       9. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilizing process according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is removeable from the sterilizing cabinet and replaced following each sterilization cycle. 
     
     
       10. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is a disposable, single-use filter cartridge, the filter cartridge having a first filter and a peripheral frame. 
     
     
       11. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 10 , wherein the filter cartridge includes a second filter. 
     
     
       12. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 10 , wherein the peripheral frame is a folded portion of the first filter. 
     
     
       13. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process of  claim 10 , wherein the peripheral frame is composed of a silicone material. 
     
     
       14. A sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process, the sterilization cabinet assembly comprising:
 (a) a cabinet having a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, two sidewalls, and an opening sized to pass a plurality of trays, each tray sized to retain a plurality of medical instruments, the opening spaced from the rear wall and extending between the top wall, the bottom wall, and the sidewalls; 
 (b) a door moveable between an open position permitting passage through the opening to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage through the opening, the door including a plurality of holes; and 
 (c) a filter overlying the plurality of holes and forming a sealed periphery between the door and the cabinet, and wherein the sealed periphery between the door and the cabinet is broken when the door is opened. 
 
     
     
       15. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 14 , wherein the door is removeable. 
     
     
       16. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 14 , wherein the sealed periphery between the door and the cabinet is formed by a single, continuous seal. 
     
     
       17. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilizing process according to  claim 14 , wherein the filter is removeable from the sterilizing cabinet and replaced following each sterilization cycle. 
     
     
       18. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 14 , wherein the opening in the cabinet is defined by a periphery and wherein the door is sized to have a door periphery extending at or beyond the opening periphery. 
     
     
       19. A sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process, the sterilization cabinet assembly comprising:
 (a) a cabinet having an opening, the cabinet opening sized to pass a plurality of trays, each tray sized to retain a plurality of medical instruments; 
 (b) a door connected to the cabinet, the door moveable between an open position permitting passage of the plurality of trays through the cabinet opening to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage of the plurality of trays through the cabinet opening, wherein the door comprises a first separable door and a second separable door, the first separable door and the second separable door each comprising an edge section and an internal section, wherein the internal section of each of the first separable door and the second separable door includes a plurality of holes; and 
 (c) a filter overlying the internal section of the first separable door and the second separable door and disposed between confronting surfaces of the first separable door and the second separable door, the filter forming a sealed interface between the edge section of the first separable door and the edge section of the second separable door. 
 
     
     
       20. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 19 , wherein the sealed interface between the filter and one of the first separable door and the second separable door is broken when the second separable door is removed. 
     
     
       21. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 20 , wherein the sealed interface between the filter and the first separable door is dependent on a sealed interface between the filter and the second separable door. 
     
     
       22. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 19 , wherein the filter is a disposable, single-use filter cartridge, the filter cartridge having a first filter and a peripheral frame. 
     
     
       23. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 22 , wherein the filter cartridge includes a second filter. 
     
     
       24. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral frame is a folded portion of the first filter. 
     
     
       25. The sterilizing cabinet assembly for use in a sterilization process according to  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral frame is composed of a silicone material. 
     
     
       26. A method for placing filters, the method comprising:
 (a) disposing a primary door to overlie a vent port of a sterilizing cabinet, the primary door comprising an edge portion and an internal portion, the internal portion comprising a plurality of holes; 
 (b) disposing a filter over the primary door to overlie the vent port of the sterilizing cabinet; 
 (c) disposing a secondary door over the filter to overlie the vent port of the sterilizing cabinet forming a sealed interface with the filter, the primary door and the sterilizing cabinet. 
 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 26 , the method further comprising passing a sterilizing agent through the vent port, the primary door, the filter and the secondary door. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 27 , the method further comprising verifying the integrity of the filter. 
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the filter is a disposable, single-use filter cartridge, the filter cartridge having a first filter and a peripheral frame. 
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the filter cartridge includes a second filter. 
     
     
       31. The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the peripheral frame is a folded portion of the first filter. 
     
     
       32. The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the peripheral frame is composed of a silicone material.